Fitting system and method for customizable footwear

ABSTRACT

Disclosed embodiments relate to a footwear system. The footwear system includes a shoe, a first insole, and a second insole. The first insole is a fitting insole having a first volume. It is positioned within the shoe during a fitting of a potential wearer of the shoe. The fitting insole is removed after the fitting is completed. The second insole has a volume substantially similar to the first volume. The second insole adapted for positioning within the shoe if the first insole demonstrates an appropriate fit. The second insole is self-customizable and further adapted to conform to the imprint of the sole of the potential wearer.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/US2017/018006, filed Feb. 15, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/295,826, filed Feb. 16, 2016, and U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/295,863, filed on Feb. 16, 2016. Each of the above-referenced patent applications is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This application relates to a fitting system for self-customizing footwear. More particularly, this application relates to insole systems and methods which provide a precision fit for footwear.

Description of the Related Technology

Traditionally, fitting footwear required the wearer to test various sizes of the footwear by trying them on at a point of sale establishment. In a traditional fitting scenario, a customer interested in purchasing new shoes would be sized by a sales associate using a brannock device to determine the length and width of the customer's feet and a sales person would then bring the customer one or more sizes of a particular item of interest. The customer would insert his or her foot into the shoe to determine whether the shoe provided a snug and comfortable fit. If the shoe did not provide a snug and comfortable fit, the customer would typically put it aside and try on another size. This process would be repeated until the customer found a size that provided the desired comfort and fit. Still, often times an ideal fit cannot be realized by way of conventional sizing scales.

More recently, designers of footwear have attempted to improve the fit of footwear by providing customized footwear items. Some customizable footwear has been made using molds taken of the foot of the customer. Using these molds, customized footwear was produced which was then delivered to the customer. Of course, there were certain disadvantages of this approach, including the fact that the fitting process took quite a bit of time, as the shoe needed to be designed after the mold was taken of the customer's foot.

Another type of customizable footwear approach has been developed using digital imaging technology. In these types of customizable footwear, digital scans of the customer's foot are taken, and using those scans a customer-specific item of footwear is created to closely conform to the shape and contour of the customer's feet. As with the use of a mold, this approach suffers from certain disadvantages. For example, in order to obtain the digital image of the foot, special equipment is needed. This type of equipment can tend to be expensive, require special training for operation of such equipment, and may not always be readily available in every retail shoe-selling establishment. Moreover, even though the digital scans can be transmitted digitally to the manufacturer, there is still lead time and delay between the fitting and the delivery of the shoe.

Shoe inserts have long been used to provide better fit, feel and support for the foot within a shoe. Such inserts range from simple linings, to contoured paddings, to support orthotics. They also range from inexpensive standard insoles, to very expensive custom-fit inserts. Inexpensive insole options, which often fail to provide sufficient fit and comfort, are currently produced by one of the following methods: “boil and wear” type solutions, ski-shop spray or heat form solutions. More custom-fit or personalized shoe inserts tend to be very expensive and the fitting process sometimes involves a trip to a physician's office or to a location with specialized fitting equipment where a scan or mold of the foot can be made. The customer will often have to wait days or weeks for delivery of the final insert.

Accordingly, improvements in the fitting and customization of footwear are needed which do not suffer from the problems identified above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed herein is an optimized shoe footwear fitting system. More particularly, systems and methods for providing a self-customized fit for footwear are provided.

In one aspect, a kit for providing customizable fit for footwear is disclosed. The kit may include a first imprint insole system having an insole affixed to a cradle; a second imprint insole system having a pressure-sensitive insole affixed to a second cradle; and instructions for activating the customized insole. Advantageously, the first imprint insole system is a fitting insole dimensioned to fit within a shoe. The second imprint insole system may be dimensioned substantially similarly to said first insole and is trimmable to accommodate a plurality of shoe shapes. Optionally, the second insole includes a pressure sensitive layer configured to conform to the shape of a wearer's foot upon the application of pressure. The first and second cradle may be constructed from a polyurethane foam material.

In certain aspects, the imprint insole systems may include a cutting guide. The kit may likewise include instructions for trimming the first or second imprint insole systems or both the first and second imprint insole systems along the cutting guide to promote a better fit of the insoles in a shoe. In other aspects, the kit can include thermoformed plastic packaging of the first and second insole system. Optionally, the packaging may include at least one cut out window.

In yet another aspect, the pressure sensitive layer of the second insole system is a thermoset polymer.

In still another aspect, the kit for providing customizable fit for footwear can include instructions for activating the second pressure sensitive insole. The instructions may include advising the wearer to insert the first insole system into a shoe. The wearer may then confirm the fit of the shoe by inserting his or her foot in the shoe having the first fitting insole. The instructions may further include a directive to remove the first insole system and replace the first insole system with said second insole system.

The instructions may further instruct the wearer to apply pressure to the insole to activate the second imprint insole system. Finally, the instructions may include a directive that the wearer reinsert his or her foot into the shoe with the second insole system such that the second insole can conform to the shape of said wearer's foot. Pressure may be applied by hand activation, by stepping on insole when it is in a shoe, or by manipulating the insole to pre-mix the mold-on-demand components prior to placing the insoles directly on a hard surface. The activation of the mold-on-demand insert can be performed one insert at a time or both the left and right insole can be activated substantially simultaneously.

In one aspect of the invention, a footwear system is provided. The system may include a shoe, a first insole system, and a second insole system. The first insole system may include a fitting insole having a first volume, and adapted to be positioned within the shoe during a fitting of a potential wearer of the shoe and removed after the fitting is completed. The second insole system may include an insole having a volume substantially similar to the first volume. Advantageously, the second insole is adapted to be positioned within the shoe if the first insole demonstrates an appropriate fit, and wherein the second insole is self-customizable and further adapted to conform to the imprint of the sole of the potential wearer. The shoe may include an athletic shoe, sport shoe and the like, casual shoe, sandal, heel, boot, or an orthopedic shoe.

In yet another aspect, the second insole includes a thermoset polymer. Optionally, the second insole can include an antibacterial layer.

Also disclosed is a method of customizing the fit of footwear. The method may include providing a shoe; wherein the shoe includes an outsole having a top layer and a bottom layer; a cushioning element attached to the top layer of said outsole; a first imprint insole system comprising a fitting insole affixed to a cradle and removably inserted in the shoe; and an upper shell. The method further includes confirming fit of the shoe; removing the first imprint insole system from the shoe; replacing the first imprint insole system with a mold-on-demand insole system; applying pressure to the mold-on-demand insole system; and imprinting the mold-on-demand insole to the shape of a wearer's foot. In some aspects, the fitting insole comprises a memory foam. In another aspect, the memory foam is a slow return memory foam.

In another aspect, a customized footwear system is provided. The footwear system may include a shoe; a fitting insole; and a mold-on-demand insole; wherein the fitting insole has a first volume; wherein the mold-on-demand insole has a volume substantially similar to the first volume; and wherein the mold-on-demand insole is configured to conform with the shape of the wearer's foot upon application of pressure. The mold-on-demand insole may be a thermoset resin. In yet another aspect, the shoe is selected from the group consisting of an athletic shoe, a sandal, a heel, a boot, and an orthopedic shoe.

This invention relates also to an improved footbed technology that provides a custom-fit, mold-on-demand footbed which molds to the contours of the foot, is pliable, and has the feel of a gel. Please note, the terms “footbed”, “insole”, and “insert” are used interchangeably. The mold-on-demand footbeds of the present invention contain a top layer and bottom layer with packets, capsules, blister packets, or blisters (hereinafter referred to as “packets”) arranged in between the two layers. The packets are made of a form and material such that they burst during the custom-fit molding process, thereby releasing the material or materials contained within the packet. These packets contain materials which begin to cure or set when released from the packets, with or without further reaction or stimuli.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an example of an item of footwear according to one or more embodiments disclosed herein.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of various components of the item of footwear shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a more detailed view of the fitting insole components shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an example of a self-customizing insole according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating components in a shoe system according to one or more embodiments.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram providing an illustration of a fitting process according to one or more embodiments.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate a schematic of a portion of a mold-on-demand footbed having burstable packets comprising a curing fluid.

FIGS. 8A and 8B depict a portion of a packet array sheet for use in a mold-on-demand insole system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments will be described with respect to the accompanying figures. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the detailed description. As used herein, the term “substantially” includes the meanings of completely, almost completely, or to any significant degree under some applications as understood by those skilled in the art. The phrase “imprint insole system” as used herein refers to an insole permanently affixed to a cradle. While an insole or cradle may be described separately, it will be appreciated that the imprint insole system comprises the combination of an insole and a cradle, wherein the component parts (namely the insole and cradle) are permanently joined to form the imprint insole system. The imprint insole system may or may not include a cushioning element, which will be described in greater detail below.

Embodiments of this application relate generally to footwear fitting systems comprising a fitting insole and a mold-on-demand insole to provide a customizable fit to a consumer. Advantageously, the fitting insole is provided in order to prevent activation of mold-on-demand insoles during a fitting process. As will be described in greater detail below, kits comprising a fitting insole and a mold-on-demand insole are specifically contemplated. Additionally, in certain embodiments, footwear is provided to a consumer prior to purchase which includes a fitting insole and a separate mold-on-demand insole. The fitting insole has the same initial thickness and volume as the mold-on-demand insole, ensuring a proper fit from heel to toe, tip to tail, and side to side. Once a proper fit is found and a purchase decision is made, the consumer may remove the fitting insole from the shoes and replace them with the mold-on-demand insoles. Once inserted, the consumer puts on the shoes and secures the shoes to the feet. The consumer then activates the mold-on-demand technology in the mold-on-demand insole by application of pressure as will be described in greater detail below. For example, activation can be accomplished by the consumer standing up and applying pressure throughout the footbed. Alternative methods of activation include bursting and kneading the mold-on demand imprint insole (by hand or with the aid of a tool such as a roller), placing the imprint insole on a hard surface and manipulating the insole in a rocking motion to ensure activation and mixing of component parts, then placing the insole assembly in a footbed of a shoe, and securing the shoe to a consumer. Once the shoe is secured, the consumer may stand, thereby applying the pressure of the consumer's weight load on the insole to activate and cure the insole as described in the instructions for use. The material contained in the mold-on-demand insole flows into areas of the foot where voids exist, and solidifies to form a customized insole.

With reference now to the Figures, FIG. 1 is an example of an item of footwear 100 which may be used to implement various aspects of the features disclosed herein. The item of footwear may take various forms. It may be any one of types and/or style of shoe, including but not limited to, athletic shoes including specialized athletic shoes such as cleats, ski and snow boots, roller skates, and the like, comfort orthopedic shoes, orthotic shoes, ordinary casual wear shoes, boots, dress shoes, high heels, fashion shoes, slippers, house shoes, sandals, and the like. Footwear construction types may include but are not limited to flat lasting, double lasted, string lasted, strobel stitched, and waterproofing constructs such as full bootie and gasket type. The shoe 100 may include various constituent parts which are described in FIG. 2.

Turning now to FIG. 2, an exploded view of various components of the shoe from FIG. 1 are shown. The shoe and constituent parts can be configured for use with either a right or a left foot. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the shoe and constituent parts are shaped for use with a left foot. As shown in FIG. 2, the shoe may include an upper shell 201. The shell may be of any pattern such as a high leg boot, court shoe, slingback, mule, sandal, ankle boot, wedge brogue, Derby/Gibson, causal, monk, tasseled loafer, Chelsea boot, moccasin, or combinations thereof. As is well-known, the upper comprises the portions of the shoe that cover the toes, the top of the foot, the sides of the foot, and the back of the heel. The upper may be constructed from any number of suitable materials including, for example, leather, textile, synthetic (nonwoven and microfiber backed), microfiber, spacer meshes, plastic, rubber, wood, natural fibers such as jute and the like. The upper shell 201 can be open toed or closed toed. Similarly, the heel of the upper shell 201 can be open heeled or closed heeled.

The shoe 100 may also include an insole 203. The insole 203 may be a mold-on-demand insole or a fitting insole as will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. The insole 203 is permanently affixed to a cradle 205, the insole 203 and cradle 205 together form an imprint insole system 213. The imprint insole system 213 is removable and when in use, can be positioned within the enclosure formed by the upper shell 201 and the outsole 211 of a shoe.

The imprint insole 213 is preferably constructed from materials which afford the imprint system 213 the properties of being substantially lightweight, providing the consumer with cushioning for comfort and fit, flexibility for ease in inserting and removing said imprint insole system 213 into a shoe, and providing a platform as well as support for the foot. Thus, the cradle 205 is preferably a foam material which offers cushioning, support, heel stabilization, and acts as a foundation for the shoe. Suitable foam materials contemplated for use in the manufacturing of the cradle 205 include, without limitation, EVA foam, polyethylene foam, polyurethane foam, foam, and blown polyurethane foam. The cradle 205 may optionally include an antimicrobial additive to inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria. The cradle 205 generally has a shape of the inner base of a shoe and is designed to fit within the cavity of a shoe. In some embodiments, the cradle 205 includes markings around the exterior perimeter of the cradle to delineate to a consumer where the cradle may be cut/trimmed to accommodate different toe box shapes as will be described in greater detail below. The cradle 205 may be positioned within a foam (or foam-like) cushioning element 207 to provide added comfort and support. The cradle 205 can thus include a single layer of foam or may include a plurality of layers such as a plurality of durometer foam layers, die out or injection stabilization components such as shanks and the like. These stabilization components may be formed from metal, die out, and injection plastics or in any other suitable material as will be appreciated by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The cradle 205 can be formed in a variety of forming processes such as but not limited to reaction, rotary, injection, direct pour, and compression molding. The cradle 205 provides dynamic shock attenuation and stabilization characteristics. Table 1 sets forth exemplary characteristics of the cradle 205 when fabricated from a pour molded polyurethane.

TABLE 1 Material/Component Specifications for Pour Molded Polyurethane Cradle CHARACTERISTICS MIN-MAX STANDARD DUROMETER 32-38 Asker C COMPRESSION SET 0.80% SPECIFIC GRAVITY .35-.45 g/cc TENSILE 10.0 kgf/cm² ELONGATION 190% DIE C TEAR 4.5 kgf/cm - NON MARKING NO MARKS HYDROLYSIS RESISTANCE After 10 days: Tensile Strength: 2.4 kgf Extension at Break: 190%

In certain embodiments, the midsole cushioning element 207 may provide additional dynamic shock attenuation, stabilization, comfort and support. The midsole cushioning element 207 is constructed of a material adapted for shock absorption such as, for example, EVA, polyurethane, blown polyurethane, and blown rubber. The midsole cushioning element 207 is fabricated via reaction, rotary, injection, direct pour, compression molding, injection molding or any other techniques known by a person having ordinary skill in the art of foam fabrication. In some embodiments, the insole imprint system 213 may further include the cushioning element 207 when the midsole cushioning element 207 is exterior to the midsole of a shoe. In some embodiments, the cushioning element is internal to the midsole of a shoe and is thus not part of the insole imprint system 213.

Tables 2 and 3 set forth exemplary materials and characteristics of certain embodiments of the midsole cushioning element 207. Table 1 sets forth the raw materials and characteristics including the minimum-maximum standard for a polyurethane (PU) exposed insole. Table 2 sets forth the raw materials and characteristics including the min-max standards for an EVA foam insole:

TABLE 2 PU Exposed Midsole Cushioning Element CHARACTERISTICS MIN-MAX STANDARD Durometer 55-60 Asker C Compression Set 6.40% Specific Gravity .30-.33 g/cc Tensile 16.0-16.5 kgf/cm2 Elongation 175% Die C Tear 12.8 kgf/cm - Stitch Tear (Dry) 6.4 N/mm min Din Abrasion 345 Ross Flex, Oil#3 125,000 cycles - 4 mm growth Max Discoloration 3.5 u.v class - Volume Swell (Fuel B@46 Hrs) 7.6 max Non Marking NO MARKS Hydrolysis Resistance After 10 days: Split Tear Strength: 1.7 kgf Tensile Strength: 2.4 kgf Extension at Break: 175%

TABLE 3 EVA Exposed Midsole Cushioning Element MIN-MAX CHARACTERISTICS STANDARD Durometer 52-58 Asker C Compression Set 20-25% Specific Gravity .19-.24 g/cc Elongation 175% Split Tear Strength 1.7 kgf Tear Strength (Dry) 6 kgf min Din Abrasion Per Material Specification Discoloration 3.5 u.v class - Non Marking NO MARKS

The outsole 211 comprises the exterior bottom portion of a shoe which is in direct contact with the ground. The outsole may be constructed from any number of materials including, without limitation, leather, natural or synthetic rubber, fabric, plastic, or combinations thereof and may be attached to the bottom of the cushioning system 207, and it forms the outer boundary between the shoe and the ground. When the imprint system 213 is integrated into footwear, the upper shell 201, midsole cushioning element 207, and outsole 211 may be bound together by any conventional means of adhesion. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the upper shell 201, midsole cushioning element 207, and outsole 211 can be bound together at the midsole using a binder 209. The binder 209 may be a foxing tape such as crepe foxing tape, or some other binding material known in the art. It is specifically contemplated, however, that in some embodiments, no binder 209 is required for connecting the upper shell 201, midsole cushioning element 207, and the outsole 211. For example, when the footwear is a sandal or high heel, the upper shell 201 can be attached/adhered directly to the outsole 211 with or without a midsole cushioning element 207.

As discussed above, the footwear fitting system may include two different insoles—one for trying on the shoe and the other a mold-on-demand insole which customizes to the anatomical shape of the wearer's foot. Turning now to FIGS. 3 and 4, examples of a fitting insole 203A and a mold-on-demand insole 203B are provided. Though shown as separate components in FIG. 3, the fitting insole 203A is permanently affixed to the top surface of the cradle 205 and adhered by any of a number of fusing techniques such as stock fitting, direct pour, insert molding, and flame lamination. The fitting insole 203A may be fabricated from any suitable material including, without limitation, polyurethanes and ethyl vinyl acetates (EVA). In one embodiment, the fitting insole 203A is fabricated from a slow return memory foam. The fitting insole 203A may be fabricated to achieve a variety of densities or hardness as will be appreciated by a skilled artisan. For example, by varying the air, gas, or blowing agent, the imprint insole can be modified. Likewise, EVAs of different density or hardness can be fabricated by varying the amount of monomeric units (e.g. ethylene or vinyl acetate). Other materials such as polyethylenes, foam rubbers, memory foam, plastazote, dyanofoam, or other foam plastics or elastomers can be used. Features of preferred insole material provide durability and comfort while also being substantially light in weight. In certain embodiments, the fitting imprint insole, comprising the fitting insole 203A and the cradle 205, includes a top layer having a substantially soft texture to improve fit and feel of the shoe. The top layer can be felt or imitation felt and may include special ventilation features such as air channels, shock absorption features, anti-bacterial features, antifungal features, or the like.

The fitting insole 203A can be manufactured in any suitable manner known to a person having ordinary skill in the art of insole manufacturing. The outline of the fitting insole 203A, defined by its outer edge, may substantially follow the profile of a left or a right foot. In some embodiments, the outer edge is sized and shaped to follow the outline of the user's shoe so that the fitting insole 203 can be used within a shoe. The fitting insole 203A permanently affixed to the cradle 205 has substantially similar dimensions as a mold-on-demand insole 203B permanently affixed to a cradle 205, which will be described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 4. In general, the fitting insole 203A may have a flexible, absorbing surface and is dimensioned to have a thickness and volume that is substantially the same as the thickness and volume of the mold-on-demand insole 203B and cradle 205. This allows for the customer to get a sense of how the shoe will fit when the mold-on-demand insole 203B is activated.

Now with reference to FIG. 4, after removing the fitting imprint insole comprising the fitting insole 203A and the cradle 205 (as illustrated in FIG. 3) from a shoe and replacing the fitting insole 203A with the mold-on-demand imprint insole comprising a mold-on-demand insole 203B coupled to a cradle 205, the mold-on-demand insole 203B and cradle 205 are positioned within a shoe.

The mold-on-demand imprint insole comprises the mold-on-demand insole 203B and cradle 205 and provides precision fit, cradling support, and stability to the user. Additionally, the mold-on-demand insole serves to unify the foot of a user with the shoe to improve overall fit of the shoe, propulsion, fatigue reduction, enhance lateral and arch support, and promote proper alignment of the foot and ankle of the user. The mold-on-demand insole 203B may take various forms. In general, the mold-on-demand insole 203B is configured to provide personalized support in areas of the foot which need it the most. The mold-on-demand insole 203B may be configured to provide a form-fit to the contours of the foot of the consumer, while at the same time providing gel-like pliability and feel. In addition, the mold-on-demand insole 203B may be formed using flexible, resilient materials which provide a fully customized fit. In general, the mold-on-demand insole is configured to mold to the foot of the wearer without needing any 3D scan of the foot or any casting whatsoever. Additionally, the mold-on-demand insole may provide customization in real-time, generally within a few minutes of activation. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the mold-on-demand insole 203B is a thermoset formed insole configured to take on the imprint of the wearer's foot.

The mold-on-demand insole 203B is fabricated from material which can take on the ability to mold to a user's foot. In one embodiment, the mold-on-demand insole 203B is fabricated from a thermoset polymer such as a thermoset resin. The mold-on-demand insole may be fabricated from a slow return memory foam. In other embodiments, the mold-on-demand insole 203B can include a top and bottom elastomeric layer. In between the top and bottom layers may be a middle layer having curable fluid stored in pressure sensitive packets which are pressure activated and may burst to release the curable fluid. The packets contain components that set or cure upon release from the activated packets and may combine and react with contents of adjacent packets to initiate curing. Exemplary curable fluids suitable for use include, without limitation, polyurethane resins, silicone resins, and epoxy resins.

In one aspect, the top and bottom layers of the mold-on-demand insole are both made of an elastomeric film, and the packets are arranged in between the two layers are made from a silicon resin. These packets can contain materials that begin to set or cure upon release from the packets and mixing/reacting with contents of adjacent packets. The packets are arranged in arrays and compartments and can be configured to optimize fit upon cure. As will be described in greater detail below, during the molding process, the user places the footbed within the shoe, and places his or her foot within the shoe on top of the footbed. The user then presses down on the footbed and rocks the foot back and forth, causing the packets to burst and the packets' contents to mix and react. The mixed material cures to the contours of the foot. In some embodiments, the footbed may be enclosed in a compartment within the shoe.

In some embodiments, curable fluid is contained within a plurality of bladders which are arranged along the length and width of the insole to optimize fit once the fluid cures. These bladders or packets are preferably burstable by hand or foot (0.1N/cm2, <500 psi). The packets may contain liquid or gaseous components that, when mixed, result in a chemical reaction that cures the materials to become solid. The mixing or reaction may also produce an added attribute such as heat, cold, light, or color change.

The packets can be filled with a range of two-component or multi-component reactive liquids. Examples of reactive liquids are two-component resins, such as polyurethane resins, silicone resins, epoxy resins, melamin resins, and polyurea resins; multi-component liquid reactants to affect the production of heat, such as in the dissolution of calcium chloride into water; multi-component liquid reactants to affect the lowering of the temperature, such as the dissolution of ammonium chloride into water; and multi-component liquid reactants to affect the production of light, such as the mixing of luminol and hydrogen peroxide.

FIGS. 7A-7C depict a schematic Depicts a schematic of a portion of footbed of the present invention, with the packet array and compartments on the bottom layer. FIG. 7(A) shows a top view of that portion of the footbed, with individual packets (1), and separate compartments or regions such as the toe region (2). FIG. 7(B) shows a perspective view of the portion of the footbed with separate compartments or regions such as the toe region (2), arch region (3) and heel region (4). FIG. 7(C) shows a cross section view of the portion of the footbed, with individual packets (1) Also depicted is the border surrounding the footbed area allows the footbed to be clamped during manufacturing processes.

The packets may be made in different three-dimensional structures, aspect ratios, and overall dimensions for different applications. The three-dimensional structure of the packets can be any three-dimensional closed solid compromising flat, contoured and/or curved surfaces; some examples are hemi-spherical, cubic, hexagonal prism, pentagonal prism, rectangular prism, cone, and tetragonal pyramid shapes.

The packets may be arranged two-dimensionally on a flat or curved surface. The curvature of the two-dimensional array may be optimized to maximize the ease of packet bursting by the user. The spacing, distribution, shape, and size of the packets can also be varied to maximize the ease of bursting by the user.

The spacing between the packets may vary between a nil thickness and 100 centimeters. Packets may be all the same size and shape or comprise a variety of different shapes within the same footbed.

Packets may take different shapes, sizes, two-dimensional positioning, or wall thickness in order to tune the packet's burst strength. In some applications, it may be important that certain packets burst before others so a mixture of burst strengths may be desired.

The most preferable arrangement of packets is a pattern of identical shaped and sized close-packed polygonal prisms, such as cubes, rectangular prisms, or hexagonal prisms. This arrangement allows the air to be evacuated efficiently from the outside thermoplastic, elastomeric bag. In this arrangement, a two-component resin can be distributed in packets such that parts A and B (i.e., the parts to be mixed) are spaced out in separate packets an alternating fashion.

The two plastic sheets that bond together to form the packet may both be thermoformed, blow molded, or otherwise shaped to define the packet volume or only one sheet can be shaped. The preferred embodiment for the moldable footbeds is a singly shaped low-density polyethylene sheet bonded to a flat low-density polyethylene sheet. In the preferred embodiment for the moldable footbed, the polyethylene is thermally welded to the adjacent sheet to define the seams of each packet.

Packets may be formed from any materials that can be sealed to each other by some means. Methods of sealing the packet seams include thermally welding, sonically welding, mechanically folded together, using a curable adhesive, or using a hot-melt adhesive or thermoplastic). For other applications, the packets could be formed by thermal or sonic welding of thermoplastic sheets or it may be desirable to use an adhesive or other material to form a significantly stronger or weaker bond to tune the delamination of the packet seam. For example, all inner seams of the individual packets in the array may be tuned to delaminate while the outer seams are meant to remain laminated such that the packet array becomes one continuous pouch after bursting. The shaped plastic sheet could also form packets with hard non-porous surfaces, such as glass, metal, rock, or a coated surface.

In a preferred method of making the footbed of the present invention, the packet arrays are formed by vacuum forming thermoplastic sheets into bubble sheets. The thermoplastic material can survive strenuous conditions during manufacturing, shipment and handling but bursts when body weight pressure is applied. This prevents premature curing and preserves on-demand molding functionality. The arrayed packets are filled with resin and a backing layer is thermally sealed to the open back of the packets to form an arrayed sheet of packets, which can be seen in FIGS. 8A and 8B. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a portion of a packet array sheet 5 where the packets have been filled with silicone resin prior to sealing within elastomeric top and bottom layers. FIG. 8A is a side profile of the filled packet array 5. FIG. 8B is a top view of a portion of the filled packet array 5.

The arrayed packet spacing and individual packet volume can be optimized in order to achieve the desired resin volume. When multiple components are desired, packet characteristics can be customized in order to contain the required volume. Also, an arrayed packet design allows for quick mixing by holding components in close proximity to each other. Upon bursting, each packet of material can be in close proximity to other packets. The preferred embodiment has an array of packets optimized for the desired volume and with curing components in close proximity.

The upper and lower elastomeric layers are preferably made from a breathable, anti-bacterial and/or anti-odor material.

Once activated, fluid from the packets may pool to areas of the foot where voids exist, and a curing process takes place. After a short period of time, the fluid may solidify, surrounding and defining the perimeter of the foot, and also flowing in between the toes and across the metatarsal area. In some embodiments, curing can be achieved in less than five minutes. In another aspect, curing can be achieved in approximately three minutes. In addition, the curing material may also flow under the midfoot or arch area, ultimately leaving a cured, soft, flexible and lasting impression of the foot. In some embodiments, the curable fluid may be compartmentalized to control the flow of the material to different areas of the foot. For example, the toe area may include one compartment of curing material, the ball and arch area another, and the heel yet another to ensure proper support in those areas.

In one embodiment, the mold-on-demand insole 203B may include memory foam infused with a pressure-activated resin. In use, when a consumer applies pressure to the insole 203B by, for example, stepping on the insole 203B, the memory foam takes the shape of the consumer's foot and the insole molds to that shape. The application of pressure also activates a resin. The resin is released and sets the memory foam in the shape of the consumer's foot imprint.

As detailed above, the mold-on-demand insole 203B is permanently affixed to the cradle 205. The cradle 205 can include markings (not illustrated) around the exterior perimeter of the cradle to delineate to a consumer where the cradle may be cut/trimmed to accommodate different toe box shapes as well as different shoe sizes.

In certain inventive embodiments self-customizing footwear may be provided as a footwear system which includes both a fitting imprint insole and a mold-on-demand imprint insole. Turning now to FIG. 5, a block diagram provides an example of contents and configuration of a footwear system 500 as delivered to a consumer. As shown, the footwear system 500 includes left and right shoes 502A and 502B. Inside the shoes 502A and 502B are the left fitting insole 504A and right fitting insole 504B, respectively. The fitting insoles are provided within the shoe so that the consumer may try on the shoe without activating the mold-on-demand technology provided in the customizable insoles 506A and 506B. The customizable insoles 506A and 506B are positioned outside of the shoe so that they can replace the fitting insoles 504A and 504B after a purchase has been made.

Turning now to FIG. 6, an example of a fitting process for according to one or more embodiments is provided. The process begins at block 601, where a pair of shoes is prepared with the fitting insole (such as fitting insole 502A and 502B) inserted into each shoe. Next, the mold-on-demand insoles (such as insoles 504A and 504B) are provided in the shoe packaging, but not within the upper. The process next moves to block 605. There, the customer selects a pair of shoes and tries on the pair of shoes using the fitting insole. As discussed above, the fitting insoles and the mold-on-demand insoles (in a pre-activated state) will generally have substantially the same initial thickness from heel to insuring a proper fit from heel to toe, tip to tail, and front to back. Next, the process moves to decision block 607, where the customer decides whether the shoes are a good fit. If not, the process returns to block 605, and the customer selects a new pair of shoes and tries them on with the fitting insole.

If at decision block 607 the customer determines that the shoes are a good fit, the process moves ahead to block 609. There, the fitting insoles are removed from the shoes. Once the fitting insoles are removed, the process moves to block 611, where the mold-on-demand insoles are inserted to replace the fitting insoles. Once the mold-on-demand insoles have been placed within the shoes, the process moves to block 613. There, the customer secures the shoes to their feet. The process then moves to block 615, where the customer, now wearing the shoes, activates the mold-on-demand insole. Activation is generally accomplished by the application of pressure. In practice, the application of pressure can be achieved in any number of ways. For example, activation can be achieved by stepping into a shoe with the mold-on-demand insert, applying a force to the sole of the shoe having the mold-on-demand insole inside the shoe, standing up with the shoe and insole on the consumer's foot such that the weight of the customer applies sufficient pressure throughout the footbed to activate the mold-on-demand technology. Additionally, pressure may be applied by hand activation or by manipulating the insole to pre-mix the mold-on-demand components prior to placing the insoles directly on a hard surface. The activation of the mold-on-demand insert can be performed one insert at a time or both the left and right insole can be activated substantially simultaneously.

Once the mold-on-demand technology has been activated the customer may stand with his or her feet shoulder width apart as the molding process begins. Depending upon the configuration of the mold-on-demand insole, the customer may stand for one or two minutes, or possibly more. Next, the process moves to block 617 where the customer stands with their feet shoulder width apart, and the material in the footbed flows. The curing material may flow into those areas of the foot where a void exists and the pre-existing shape of the mold-on-demand insole fails to provide adequate support. In particular, material will surround and define the perimeter of the foot, flow in between the toes and across the metatarsal area, and under the midfoot or arch area leaving a cured, soft, flexible and lasting impression of the foot in intricate detail. Generally, curing occurs within around five minutes of activation.

In some embodiments, a kit for promoting fit and customized footwear is disclosed. The kit comprises an insole/imprint system having at least one mold-on-demand insole adhered to a cradle. The kit can include a left footed mold on demand insole/imprint system, a right footed insole/imprint system, or both. In some embodiments, the kit further comprises a fitting insole permanently affixed to a cradle. The fitting insole/imprint system can include a left footed fitting insole/imprint system, a right footed fitting insole/imprint system, or a combination thereof. The insole/imprint system is provided in various sizes for use with different sized feet. In some embodiments, the sizes correspond to typical men's, women's and children's shoe sizes. Advantageously, the sizes of insole/imprint systems disclosed herein are all purpose and can include wide, narrow, children's sizes, as well as sizes and shapes suitable for use in any number of shoe types including heels, athletic shoes, orthopedic footwear, sandals, etc. In some embodiments, sizes can range from size 3-14.

The insole/imprint system may include a marking/cutting guide along the perimeter of the cradle. In some embodiments, the marking/cutting guide appears on the top surface of the insole. The cutting guide designates the boundaries for which further customization of fit can be achieved by trimming the edges of the insole/imprint system to accommodate sizing as well as different toe box shapes in various shoe designs. The cutting guide can be printed, etched, engraved, or molded onto the surface of the insole/imprint system. In operation, the user will be instructed that if further sizing optimization is necessary to promote better fit of the insole/imprint system in a shoe, the insole/imprint system may be trimmed by the user provided such trimming is restricted to the exterior boundaries of the insole/imprint system and should not exceed beyond the area of the insole/imprint system indicated by the cutting guide. Thus, the kit can further include instructions for guiding the consumer to further customize the fit of an insole/imprint system by trimming the edges of the insoles relative to the cutting guide on the top surface of the imprint/insole system. Instructions also include a directive not to cut beyond the cutting guide to avoid activation of the mold-on-demand.

In another embodiment, the kit can optionally include instructions to size the insole/imprint system by removing the manufacturer's insole from a shoe and using said manufacture insole as a template for trimming the insole/imprint system to optimize fit. Instructions can include directions to remove the manufacture insole, trace the outline of the manufacturer insole onto the insole/imprint system, and trim the insole/imprint system along the trace lines to fit. Instructions would further include directions to insert the trimmed insole/imprint system into the shoe prior to activation.

In some embodiments, the kit includes packaging to prevent unintentional activation of the mold-on-demand insole. The packaging may be a thermoformed clamshell. In some embodiments, the packaging comprises a cut-away window to provide visualization of the insole as well as an opportunity for the consumer to tactilely interact with the insole.

A method of forming mold-on-demand imprint insole systems is likewise contemplated. The steps for producing such footbeds can include the following: materials are prepared by cutting LDPE, TPU, fabric, and transfer adhesive to the proper size required. With the LDPE sheeting, custom bubble arrays are formed by vacuum thermoforming of the film. The LDPE sheeting is brought into close proximity of a high temperature heat source, kept at 275° C. Once the material begins to soften and exhibits characteristics of melting, the sheeting is then brought into contact with a custom mold that is arranged on a vacuum plate, allowing the softened material to form a net shape of the custom mold. Once this custom bubble arrangement is formed, the piece is then placed into a custom holder with rigid channels between the formed bubbles, allowing the bubbles to hang freely. In this holder, silicone components are then loaded into the bubbles in an alternating fashion. Once the bubbles are filled, a sheet of LDPE is then laid across the loaded bubbles. Using a high temperature and high pressure pneumatic thermal press, this film is pressed into the custom bubble arrays, forcing a high pressure gradient where the rigid channel below lies, allowing the LDPE to seal to itself through the silicone contamination. This completes the formation of the silicone loaded bubble arrays.

Using the prepared TPU sheeting, two films are placed substantially directly on top of one another and a desired fabric top cover is applied to the top surface using a double sided transfer tape adhesive. With the fabric in place, the silicone loaded bubble array is aligned in proper position in between the two TPU sheets. With this array in place, three sides of the film stack are heat sealed, creating TPU-TPU bonds around the outer edge. With these seals completed, the final open side is then used to evacuate the excess air held within the films, creating a vacuum tight seal of the TPU sheeting around the custom bubble arrays. Once the air has been evacuated, the TPU sheets are then heat sealed using a custom sealing plate kept at high temperature and pressure, forming the overall shape of an insole complete with sealed partitions in specific areas of the insole to separate bubbles in certain regions of the foot. Once this seal has been created, the net shape desired for further manufacturing is then cut and the custom moldable layer of the mold-on-demand insole is finalized.

Certain preferred materials for use in the manufacture of a mold-on-demand imprint insole can include:

-   a. Silicone filler material is Andisil 204-37 Parts C&D, supplied by     AB Specialty Silicones -   b. Bubble films formed from LDPE, 10 mil film thickness, supplied by     SC Johnson. Film with no slip additive preferred -   c. TPU sheeting is product DT-7101, 8 mil film thickness, supplied     by American Polyfilms Inc. -   d. Fabrics provided by Cosmo Fabrics

While certain embodiments are described herein in detail, it is to be understood that this disclosure is illustrative and exemplary, and is made merely for the purposes of providing a full and enabling disclosure. The detailed disclosure herein of one or more embodiments is not intended, nor is to be construed, to limit the scope of patent protection, for which scope is to be defined by the claims and the equivalents thereof. It is not intended that the scope of patent protection be defined by reading into any claim a limitation found herein that does not explicitly appear in the claim itself. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A kit for providing customizable fit for footwear, comprising: a first imprint insole system comprising an insole affixed to a cradle; a second imprint insole system comprising a mold-on-demand insole comprising a first elastomeric layer, a second elastomeric layer, and a plurality of burstable packets disposed between said first and second elastomeric layers; wherein said mold-on-demand insole is affixed to a second cradle; and instructions for activating the second imprint insole system; wherein said first imprint insole system is a fitting insole dimensioned to fit within a shoe; wherein the second imprint insole system is dimensioned substantially similarly to said first insole and is trimmable to accommodate a plurality of shoe shapes; and wherein said second insole comprises a mold-on-demand layer configured to conform to the shape of a wearer's foot upon the application of pressure.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein said second imprint insole system includes a cutting guide.
 3. The kit of claim 2, further comprising instructions for trimming said second imprint insole system along the cutting guide.
 4. The kit of claim 1, further comprising thermoformed plastic packaging of said second insole system.
 5. The kit of claim 1, wherein said plurality of burstable packets comprises a curable fluid.
 6. The kit of claim 5, wherein said curable fluid is a silicone resin.
 7. The kit of claim 1, wherein said instructions for activation comprise: advising the wearer to insert said first insole system into a shoe; confirming the fit of the shoe by inserting the foot of the wearer in the shoe having said first insole system; removing said first insole system and replacing said first insole system with said second insole system; applying pressure to said second insole to activate said second imprint insole system; and instructing said wearer to reinsert said foot into the shoe with the second insole system such that the second insole can conform to the shape of said wearer's foot.
 8. The kit of claim 1, wherein said first cradle is polyurethane foam.
 9. The kit of claim 4, wherein said packaging further comprises at least one cut-out window.
 10. An item of self-customizing footwear comprising: an upper; an insole; and an outsole; wherein the insole comprises an upper layer positioned to contact with the bottom of the foot; an elastomeric bottom layer coupled to the outsole; and a middle layer enclosed between the upper layer and the lower layer; said middle layer comprising a plurality of burstable packets; said burstable packets comprising a curable fluid material.
 11. The item of claim 10, wherein at least some of the burstable packets are configured to burst when pressure is applied to said packets.
 12. The item of claim 11, wherein upon bursting, the curable fluid is configured to flow within the enclosed middle layer of the insole to conform to and solidify in the shape of a foot.
 13. The item of claim 11, wherein upon bursting, the curable fluid is configured to flow within the enclosed middle layer of the insole to conform to and solidify in the shape of a foot.
 14. The item of claim 13, wherein the curable fluid in one of the plurality of compartments is different than the curable fluid in another compartment.
 15. The item of claim 14, wherein the plurality of compartments are configured to control flow of curable liquid as pressure is applied to various portions of the foot.
 16. The item of claim 15, wherein said pressure is a weight bearing action by a user of said footwear.
 17. A customizable footbed, comprising: an elastomeric bottom layer; and a layer of burstable packets coupled to the bottom layer, wherein at least one of the burstable packets comprises a curable fluid.
 18. The footbed of claim 17, wherein said curable fluid is a silicone resin. 